Edouard Brun

Edouard Brun is a family house in Aÿ, the grand cru village on the Marne. It was founded in 1898 by Édouard Brun, who was born in 1875 into a family of coopers, and barrel-making is still regarded as the root of the house. The house is based at 14 Rue Marcel Mailly.

Family and generations

In the late 1920s Edmond Lefèvre joined, the son of vignerons, who had previously gained experience in the cellars of a well-known house in Aÿ. In 1968 his daughter Claude Delescot took over, supported by her sons Philippe and Emmanuel. Today Emmanuel Delescot is president and Philippe Delescot is directeur général. Emmanuel looks after communication and sales, Philippe the vineyard and the cellar. The group also includes the René Brun brand, which joined the house in 2004.

Vineyards and way of working

The family estate covers around ten hectares, exclusively in premier cru and grand cru sites. Older sources give eight to nine hectares. The plots lie in Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Hautvillers, Chigny-les-Roses and Ludes. The frequently quoted reference to Aÿ and Mareuil alone therefore falls short. The largest plots are in Ludes and Chigny-les-Roses. The grapes grown are Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Wood shapes the style. The Pinot Noir is aged in barrels, the Meunier and Chardonnay in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. No new barrels are used: the barriques of 205, 400 and 600 litres are first filled for several years with wines from the second pressing. The large cuvées are riddled by hand. The house cites environmentally friendly growing practices as a lasting commitment. An organic certification could not be verified.

Cuvées, visits and tasting

• Blanc de Noirs Aÿ Grand Cru Extra Brut: fermented in barrels, aged for over 48 months, dosage 3 g/l.
• L'Élégante Rosé Grand Cru Brut: 80% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 5% red-vinified Pinot Noir.

Visits are by appointment only. The house can be reached by telephone on +33 3 26 55 20 11. Groups of up to nine people are welcome.